Post-processing system for finite element analysis

Abstract

An apparatus is provided for implementation of a post-processing system for providing post-processing analysis of a numerical model. The post-processing system may render a numerical model that represents a structural product by a mesh of elements. A dynamically adjustable user-defined string across the mesh is generated and a set of intermediate points that coincide with intersection of the string and edges of at least some of the elements of the mesh is created. An interpolated dataset, for which a plot is subsequently generated, is calculated from the nodal dataset and at least some nodal points. In response to adjustment of the string, a corresponding adjusted string is generated, a new set of intermediate points is created, and an interpolated dataset with which the new set of intermediate points is associated is calculated.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of design and verification of a structural product that is an aircraft or one or more component parts of an aircraft, the method comprising:
 measuring a physical instance of the structural product using a measurement tool that is or includes a thickness gauge, ultrasonic non-destructive inspection probe, load cell or strain gauge, the measurement tool producing measurements for the physical instance of the structural product; 
 rendering a numerical model of the structural product, the numerical model representing the structural product by a mesh of elements each of which possesses a set of nodal points associated with a nodal dataset in which each nodal point is connected by an edge to each adjacent nodal point, and in which the nodal dataset for each set of nodal points includes values of a property or state of the structural product at respective nodal points of the set of nodal points; 
 generating a user-defined string across at least a portion of the mesh; 
 creating a set of intermediate points that coincide with intersection of the string and edges of elements of mesh, identifying disconnected segments in the mesh based on the intersection, calculating an interpolated dataset with which the set of intermediate points is associated, the interpolated dataset being calculated from the nodal dataset of the set of nodal points possessed by each element of the elements, automatically interpolating the disconnected segments in the mesh; 
 wherein the string is dynamically adjustable, such that in response to adjustment of the string, the method further comprises generating a corresponding adjusted string, creating a new set of intermediate points that coincide with intersection of the adjusted string and edges of the elements of the mesh, and calculating a new interpolated dataset with which the new set of intermediate points is associated; 
 simultaneously generating a plot of the new interpolated dataset and a plot of a corresponding dataset of the measurements; and 
 verifying the physical instance of the structural product based on comparison of the corresponding dataset with the new interpolated dataset, and the interpolated segments in the mesh previously disconnected. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein generating the string includes automatically generating the string based on one or more user-defined parameters of a slice plane that intersects the mesh at the string. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2  further comprising:
 receiving the one or more user-defined parameters via respectively one or more graphical user interface control elements, wherein the adjustment of the string is effectuated by adjustment of at least one of the one or more user-defined parameters; and 
 receiving the adjustment of the at least one of the one or more user-defined parameters via at least one of the one or more graphical user interface control elements. 
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the string intersects at least one nodal point of at least one set of nodal points, and generating the plot of the new interpolated dataset includes generating the plot of the new interpolated dataset and data of the at least one nodal point from the nodal dataset for the at least one set of nodal points. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the nodal dataset for each set of nodal points includes values of a geometric property of the structural product at respective nodal points of the set of nodal points. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the numerical model is a finite element model representing the structural product by a mesh of finite elements, and the method further comprises performing finite element analysis of the finite element model to produce the nodal dataset for the set of nodal points of each of the finite elements of the mesh, the nodal dataset for each set of nodal points including values of a state variable at respective nodal points of the set of nodal points. 
     
     
       7. An apparatus for design and verification of a structural product that is an aircraft or one or more component parts of an aircraft, the apparatus comprising a processor and a memory storing executable instructions that, in response to execution by the processor, cause the apparatus to at least:
 receive measurements for a physical instance of the structural product; 
 render a numerical model of a structural product, the numerical model representing the structural product by a mesh of elements each of which possesses a set of nodal points associated with a nodal dataset in which each nodal point is connected by an edge to each adjacent nodal point, and in which the nodal dataset for each set of nodal points includes values of a property or state of the structural product at respective nodal points of the set of nodal points; 
 generate a user-defined string across at least a portion of the mesh; 
 create a set of intermediate points that coincide with intersection of the string and edges of elements of the mesh, identify disconnected segments in the mesh based on the intersection, calculate an interpolated dataset with which the set of intermediate points is associated, the interpolated dataset being calculated from the nodal dataset of the set of nodal points possessed by each element of the elements, automatically interpolate the disconnected segments in the mesh; 
 wherein the string is dynamically adjustable such that in response to adjustment of the string, the apparatus is further caused to generate a corresponding adjusted string, create a new set of intermediate points that coincide with intersection of the adjusted string and edges of the elements of the mesh, and calculate an new interpolated dataset with which the new set of intermediate points is associated, 
 simultaneously generate a plot of the new interpolated dataset and a plot of a corresponding dataset of the measurements; 
 verify the physical instance of the structural product based on comparison of the corresponding dataset with the new interpolated dataset, and the interpolated segments in the mesh previously disconnected. 
 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the apparatus being caused to generate the string includes being caused to automatically generate the string based on one or more user-defined parameters of a slice plane that intersects the mesh at the string. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the apparatus is further caused to receive the one or more user-defined parameters via respectively one or more graphical user interface control elements, and
 wherein the adjustment of the string is effectuated by adjustment of at least one of the one or more user-defined parameters, the apparatus being further caused to receive the adjustment of the at least one of the one or more user-defined parameters via at least one of the one or more graphical user interface control elements. 
 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the string intersects at least one nodal point of at least one set of nodal points, and the apparatus being caused to generate the plot of the new interpolated dataset includes being caused to generate the plot of the new interpolated dataset and data of the at least one nodal point from the nodal dataset for the at least one set of nodal points. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the nodal dataset for each set of nodal points includes values of a geometric property of the structural product at respective nodal points of the set of nodal points. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the numerical model is a finite element model representing the structural product by a mesh of finite elements, and wherein the memory stores further executable instructions that, in response to execution by the processor, cause the apparatus to further:
 perform finite element analysis of the finite element to produce the nodal dataset for the set of nodal points of each of the finite elements of the mesh, the nodal dataset for each set of nodal points including values of a state variable at respective nodal points of the set of nodal points. 
 
     
     
       13. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for design and verification of a structural product that is an aircraft or one or more component parts of an aircraft, the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein that in response to execution by a processor, cause an apparatus to at least:
 receive measurements for a physical instance of the structural product 
 render a numerical model of a structural product, the numerical model representing the structural product by a mesh of elements each of which possesses a set of nodal points associated with a nodal dataset in which each nodal point is connected by an edge to each adjacent nodal point, and in which the nodal dataset for each set of nodal points includes values of a property or state of the structural product at respective nodal points of the set of nodal points; 
 generate a user-defined string across at least a portion of the mesh; 
 create a set of intermediate points that coincide with intersection of the string and edges of elements of the mesh, identify disconnected segments in the mesh based on the intersection, calculate an interpolated dataset with which the set of intermediate points is associated, the interpolated dataset being calculated from the nodal dataset of the set of nodal points possessed by each element of the elements, automatically interpolate the disconnected segments in the mesh; 
 wherein the string is dynamically adjustable such that in response to adjustment of the string, the apparatus is further caused to generate a corresponding adjusted string, create a new set of intermediate points that coincide with intersection of the adjusted string and edges of the elements of the mesh, and calculate a new interpolated dataset with which the new set of intermediate points is associated, 
 simultaneously generate a plot of the new interpolated dataset and a plot of a corresponding dataset of the measurements; 
 verify the physical instance of the structural product based on comparison of the corresponding dataset with the new interpolated dataset, and the interpolated segments in the mesh previously disconnected. 
 
     
     
       14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 13 , wherein the apparatus being caused to generate the string includes being caused to automatically generate the string based on one or more user-defined parameters of a slice plane that intersects the mesh at the string. 
     
     
       15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 14  having further computer-readable program code portions stored therein that in response to execution by the processor, cause the apparatus to:
 receive the one or more user-defined parameters via respectively one or more graphical user interface control elements, wherein the adjustment of the string is effectuated by adjustment of at least one of the one or more user-defined parameters; and 
 receive the adjustment of the at least one of the one or more user-defined parameters via at least one of the one or more graphical user interface control elements. 
 
     
     
       16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 13 , wherein the string intersects at least one nodal point of at least one set of nodal points, and the apparatus being caused to generate the plot of the new interpolated dataset includes being caused to generate the plot of the new interpolated dataset and data of the at least one nodal point from the nodal dataset for the at least one set of nodal points. 
     
     
       17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 13 , wherein the nodal dataset for each set of nodal points includes values of a geometric property of the structural product at respective nodal points of the set of nodal points. 
     
     
       18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 13 , wherein the numerical model is a finite element model representing the structural product by a mesh of finite elements, and the computer-readable storage medium has further computer-readable program code portions stored therein that in response to execution by the processor, cause the apparatus to perform finite element analysis of the finite element model to produce the nodal dataset for the set of nodal points of each of the finite elements of the mesh, the nodal dataset for each set of nodal points including values of a state variable at respective nodal points of the set of nodal points.